(As delivered)
Statement by Mr. Takeshi Akahori
Minister for Political Affairs
Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
At the General Debate of the Fourth Committee at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly
25th October 2016
Mr. Chairman,
This spring, we had intensive and comprehensive discussions in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. UN peacekeeping operations face many challenges, including securing sufficient personnel and equipment, ensuring the safety and security of personnel, and taking advantage of technological advancements. The UN and many Member States have been undertaking a variety of efforts to address these challenges.
For Japan, the priority has been to improve the quality and capability of peacekeeping operations. A number of pledges have been made, including at the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping last year as well as at the UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial in London last month. These pledges have helped meet many requirements, but we still face gaps in terms of mission quality and capability. The agenda items of the Defence Ministerial, including women, peace and security; pre- and post-deployment; sexual exploitation and abuse; and rapid deployment, all point to the need to improve the quality and capability of peacekeeping operations. Japan is committed to leading discussions and efforts in this area.
One concrete way for Japan to contribute to the improvement of the quality and capability of PKOs is by supporting the Triangular Partnership Project in the field of engineering. We are very happy that USG Khare drew attention to this project in his remarks at the beginning of this general debate. I also thank the distinguished representative of Kenya for mentioning this project in his statement. This project aims at training and equipping African military engineers so that they can deploy rapidly and play a key enabling role on the ground. More than 60 African engineers were trained in Nairobi this year. We are happy to be able to cooperate with Kenya.
As noted in this year’s report from the Special Committee, this model can be expanded, and we invite other Member States to join us in supporting it.
We are also focusing our efforts on the field of communications through support to the UN Signals Academy and Training Centre in Entebbe, Uganda. The UN Signals Academy and Training Center has provided mission-oriented training for more than one thousand personnel so far this year. We are happy that a women’s outreach program will start on 14 November in the academy. This program is targeted at Member States and aims to improve the quality and capability of peacekeeping operations by developing the ICT skills of female personnel.
I reiterate Japan’s support for the Secretary General’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. The UN and all Member States must come together in order to tackle this serious problem. A UN e-learning program, supported by Japan, has recently finalized its educational materials, which are meant to be used by every peacekeeper from every Member State, including our own. We would be very grateful for the Secretariat’s follow-up and for frank feedback from all Member States. We hope that the e-learning will be utilized by all troops. In addition, Japan recently announced its contribution to the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and hopes other Member States will also support this fund.
I would also like to touch on the issue of gender and peacekeeping. This was one of the most important themes in the Defense Ministerial last month.
When Japan first dispatched its Self-Defense Forces to the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia in 1992, there were no women among its personnel. Today, twenty-four years later, there are 13 women serving in the Japanese contingent in South Sudan. Japan is currently engaged in a Government-wide policy to promote the advancement of women across society. We are actively promoting female participation in the Self-Defense Forces, including in UN peacekeeping.
Women can make major contributions to peacekeeping today. For example, female peacekeepers play a central role in cooperation with local communities and support for victims of sexual and gender-based violence. Japan has recently committed to supporting UN capacity building programs for Women Protection Advisers in UN peacekeeping operations. These advisors will provide advice to mission leadership on the protection of women from conflict-related sexual violence.
Mr. Chairman,
In order for UN peacekeeping to best meet today’s needs, we must continuously improve mission quality and capability. This will require the Secretariat and Member States to work even more closely together. The Security Council must also ensure that mission mandates are tailored to the reality of the changing situation and needs on the ground. USG Ladsous has noted the relationship between mandate creators and implementers. Japan is committed to supporting all efforts and discussions in this area, as a C34 member, as a troop contributor, and in its present role as a member of the Security Council.
In closing, Japan would like to express its heartfelt appreciation to all peacekeepers for their contributions even in the face of severe challenges on the ground. Japan also expresses its deepest condolences for those peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Japan strongly condemns attacks targeting peacekeepers.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
